Teens Involved in Barnard College Stabbing Return to Court

A teen from New York City, previously associated with the 2019 stabbing of Barnard College student Tessa Majors, is back in custody facing serious new charges. Zaire Davis, who was just 13 at the time of the attack, had received a relatively light juvenile sentence after the incident, which led to Majors’ death. Now, however, he’s facing accusations of attempted murder and assault related to a gang-related shooting in Harlem.

Davis was one of three teens arrested for the stabbing, but notably, he did not inflict the fatal injuries. Consequently, he served only 18 months in a juvenile detention center, while his co-defendants received life sentences. Now, as an adult, he’s facing over a dozen new charges, most of which are violent, according to court documents.

Tessa Majors, an 18-year-old from Charlottesville, was in her first semester at Barnard College, located near Columbia University. The attack occurred in Morningside Park when Davis and his friends confronted her and attempted to rob her for her cellphone. In a struggle, Majors fought back fiercely, even biting one of her attackers, leading to a series of violent interactions that ended tragically.

Davis played a role in the robbery, but according to reports, it was his accomplice who ultimately stabbed Majors leading to her death. In court proceedings, her family shared how she was not just a victim but also an aspiring musician who struggled to retain her phone that held years of her work.

While Davis received a lighter sentence due to his age at the time of the crime, the other two minors charged were prosecuted as adults. However, he recently re-entered the prison system following the Harlem incident. This time, as he awaits trial, debate continues regarding the implications of New York’s “raise the age” law, which aims to treat young offenders differently than adults. Critics argue it’s failing to prevent repeat offenses.

As Davis awaits his next court appearances, the situation deeply resonates in the community, raising questions about justice, accountability, and the complexities surrounding juvenile crime. It’s a story that evokes mixed feelings—part sadness for Majors’ loss and part frustration with the system that seemed to let Davis slip through the cracks.